JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (WIAT) -- After leading Jacksonville State to its first Conference USA football championship Friday, Rich Rodriguez was announced as the conference's coach of the year Wednesday.
Rodriguez, who previously led West Virginia, Michigan and Arizona, took over for the Gamecocks in 2022. Jacksonville State was playing in the FCS' Atlantic Sun Conference at the time but jumped to the FBS in 2023.
The Gamecocks started the 2024 campaign 0-3 but went on an eight-game winning streak to host the 2024 CUSA championship game. Jacksonville State fell to Western Kentucky in the regular-season finale but avenged the defeat a week later in the championship game with a 52-12 victory over the Hilltoppers. The Gamecocks are averaging 267.3 yards per game on the ground, which is the second most in the nation.
Jacksonville State is 27-10 under Rodriguez. Last season, the Gamecocks won eight games during the regular season and earned their first bowl bid. They downed Louisiana, 34-31, in the New Orleans Bowl.
Though Rodriguez is contracted with Jacksonville State through the 2030 season, West Virginia is reportedly eyeing Rodriguez as its next head coach. Rodriguez was the Mountaineer's head coach from 2001-07 and won four Big East championships. West Virginia fired head coach Neal Brown on Dec. 1 after he went 37-35 over six seasons.
Jacksonville State will face Ohio in the Cure Bowl on Dec. 20. The game will start at 11 a.m. central time and be played in Orlando's Camping World Stadium.